Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia has filed a bill hailing a Filipino-American woman from Dagupan City for being recently appointed as deputy commissioner of the US Bureau of Reclamation.
Camille Calimlim Touton, who is from Barangay Tebeng in Dagupan, City, was the first Filipino-American appointed by US President Joe Biden since he assumed office on January 20.
The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the US Department of the Interior in charge of water management and oversees the operations of dams, canals and hydroelectric plants.
Touton is the daughter of Carl Calimlim and Marlene Bagsal while her grandparents are the late Camilo Calimlim, a retired US Navy man and former Tebeng barangay captain Juanita Calimlim, a close relative of former five-time Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
Born in Quezon City, Touton grew up in Dagupan City and Calasiao before she and her family migrated to the United States.
In sponsoring the resolution, De Venecia said the appointment of Touton brings honor and pride not only to the people of Dagupan City but also to the entire Philippines.
Aside from holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Touton finished her Bachelors of Science in Communication Studies from the University of Nevada and completed her Master’s Degree in Public Policies from Georgetown University in Virginia.
As deputy commissioner of the US Bureau of Reclamation, Touton’s work focuses on complicated issues on Western US water policy and in formulating policies that could respond to the grave threats posed by climate change and unpredictable drought cycles.
Before assuming her present post, Touton worked as professional staff members in House and Senate committees and in many other federal government positions and was a one time deputy assistant secretary for water and science.